By WMBD TV
NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — The offseason was the shortest in Illinois State football history.
But the players are glad it is over. About six-and-a-half months after playing in the FCS national title game, the Redbirds are back to work for a new season.
ISU opened fall camp on Thursday with nine starters back from the team that finished as the national runner-up in January.
“I think last year we had the expectations. People thought we could still bust. But now we are all boom. We are excited about that,” said senior linebacker Tye Niekamp. “. This is a team that is really talented. We are light years ahead of where we were last year. We are ready to play, the guys are ready to go. We are a lot smarter than we were last year. There’s a lot of excitement right now.”
ISU won four playoff games on the road to earn a trip to Nashville and play for the FCS championship.
“I feel like the standard is definitely higher,” said sophomore receiver Luke Mailander. “I think the standard last year was to get to the national championship game. But now that we went there, we definitely have to get back.”
